Rebel Wilson

Rebel Melanie Elizabeth Wilson, born Melanie Elizabeth Bownds on March 2, 1980, in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, embarked on her career on various stages in Sydney during the early 2000s, where she often created and performed her original material. She trained at the Australian Theatre for Young People (ATYP), a scholarship funded by Nicole Kidman, and with The Second City in New York. Her early work included the stage musical “The Westie Monologues” (2002), which she wrote and starred in. Wilson transitioned to Australian television, becoming a prominent female voice in comedy. She appeared as Toula on the SBS comedy series “Pizza” (2003–2007) and in the sketch comedy show “The Wedge” (2006–2007). In 2008, she wrote, produced, and starred in her musical television series “Bogan Pride” for SBS.

Wilson moved to the United States in 2010, marking a turning point in her career. She gained international recognition for her role in the cult classic “Bridesmaids” (2011), a role specifically written for her. Her portrayal of ‘Fat Amy’ in the “Pitch Perfect” trilogy (2012–2017) further solidified her global presence; these films became the highest-grossing musical comedies of all time. Additional feature film credits include the Academy Award-winning “Jojo Rabbit” (2019), “Isn’t It Romantic” (2019), “How To Be Single” (2016), and “The Hustle” (2019).

In 2022, Wilson starred in “Senior Year” on Netflix, which garnered significant viewership. Her memoir, “Rebel Rising,” released in the same year, became a best-seller. Wilson is a patron of The Australian Theatre for Young People, where ‘The Rebel Theatre’ is named in her honor. She is making her directorial debut with “The Deb,” a musical comedy film that she also co-wrote, produced, and co-stars in.